Right angle conveyer



Dec. 13, 1960 J. P. LOPEZ RIGHT ANGLE ooNvEYER 3 Sheets-Sheet l FiledDec. 12, 1957 Z M I S l M fm T N N R |l.. wf. m N\.\ A 1l |H|| il Jnuhnlk ||l Y m -llrnl B N\\ Q ll. T| l 'WW1 ww H NN .Nm wm MN L 2, wwwNu! LIN NN w@ M@ irll l l@ mullllw @N .um Mw .N\ Q mm m .Sm MN Dec. 13',1960 J. P. LOPEZ RIGHT ANGLE coNvEYER s sheets-sheet 2 Filed DGO. l2,1957 ooooooooo ATTORNEYS- Dec. 13, 1960 J. P. LOPEz 2,964,161

RIGHT .ANGLE coNvEYER Filed Dec. 12, 1957 6 sheets-sheet 6 INVENTOR BYl] ATTORNEYS United States RIGHT ANGLE CONVEYER John P. Lopez, Westlield,NJ., assignor to Universal Corrugated Box Machinery Corporation, acorporation of New York Filed Dec. 12, 1957, Ser. No. 702,309

7 Claims. (Cl. 198-28) This invention relates to the art of conveyingequipment and more particularly to a conveyer adapted to receiverelatively fiat articles and to advance such articles at a high rate ofspeed in direction at right angles to the direction of dischargethereon.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a conveyer equipmentof the above type that has relatively few parts and is not likely tobecome deranged with long continued use, which equipment will dependablyreceive relatively flat, rectangular articles such as folded box blanks,in rapid succession and without likelihood of jamming due to opening ofsuch box blanks, from suitable discharge means which successively ejectssuch articles onto the conveyor, and which will align such articles andretain them in aligned relation on the conveyor while advancing the sameat a high rate of speed in direction at right yangles to the directionof discharge thereon without dislodgment of such articles on theconveyer.

According to the invention these objects are accomplished by thearrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described Vandparticularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of variouspossible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is an end view of the equipment,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the equipment with parts broken away,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view taken along line 4 4 of Fig. l,

Fig. 5 is a detail view taken along 'line 5 5 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 6 6 ofFig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, the right angle take olf T comprises aframe 11 supported from the floor by upright legs or standards 12,elongated beams 13 afxed to the associated legs 12 serving to strengthenthe frame.

Rigidly mounted on the upstanding legs 12 and extending parallel to thefloor `is a substantially rectangular tank 14. Referring to Fig. l, forexample, suitably mounted on beams 13 is a motor M that drives a suctionfan 15, which may be of any conventional type, the suction fan having anoutlet connected to the bottom of the tank 14. Thus, upon energizationof the motor M, suction will be created in the tank 14.

The upper surface of the suction tank 14 desirably is formed from aperforated steel sheet 16, illustratively rectangular as shown and whichextends transversely of the frame from the left hand side toward theright hand side, a portion of the top surface adjacent the right handside of the top surface of the tank being imperforate as shown at 17.

Desirably, a pivoted cover plate 21 is provided over an opening in theimperforate portion of the top surface 2,964,161 Patented Dec. 13, 1960ice of the tank which may be opened as desired to regulate the degree ofsuction created in the tank and reacting through the perforations in theperforated sheet 16.

Extending transversely across the frame and straddling the suction tank14 are a pair of rollers 22 and 23 respectively. The rollers are`suitably mounted on shafts 24- extending transversely across the frameand the rollers are encompassed by a perforated endless belt 25, thediameter of the rollers being such that the opposed runs of the beltwill straddle the suction tank 14 with the upper run of the belt restingon the perforated steel sheet 16 which comprises the top surface of thesuction tank.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rollers 22, 23 desirably are of reduceddiameter at the portion thereof adjacent the left hand side of theframe, which portion is aligned with the perforated steel sheet 16. Thebelt 25 is of width to cover only the reduced diameter portion of therollers so that the imperforate portion of the suction tank 14 will notbe covered, thus providing access to the cover plate 21 and providingclearance for the suction fan and inlet port to the suction tank.

Extending transversely across the frame and positioned above the topsurface of the suction tank 14 are longitudinally spaced supporting rods28 and 29, the ends of which are carried by upstanding supports 31.Slidably mounted on each of the rods is a bracket 32 which depends fromthe rod and a cross bar or back stop 33 is affixed at its respectiveends to each of the brackets, with the lower edge 34 of said cross bar33 being positioned closely adjacent the surface of belt 25 as isclearly Shown in Fig. l. The brackets have a threaded opening throughwhich extends a screw 36, one end of which is rotatably mounted in theupright support 3'1 on the left side of the machine and the other end ofwhich extends through and is rotatably mounted in the upright support onthe right hand side of the machine. Thus, when the screws 36 arerotated, the position of the back stop 33 may be adjusted to accommodatedifferent widths of box blanks in the manner to be described.

Aiiixed to the front surface of back stop 33 adjacent each of its endsbetween the brackets 32 is an angle member 61, the vertical leg of whichis secured to back stop 33 as by screws 62. The horizontal leg 63 ofeach of the angle members 61 extends toward the left side of theconveyer belt 25 and mounts one end 65 of a support bar 64. As shown inFig. 3, the end 65 is bifurcated to define a slot 66 and a pair ofscrews 67 extend through the slot 66 into corresponding threadedopenings in leg 63 adjustably to mount bar 64.

Referring to Fig. l, each of the bars 64 is upwardly inclined as at 68and an upstanding mounting finger 69 is aflixed to the end 71 of each ofthe bars and extends outwardly therefrom.

The bars 64 support a dellector plate 72 which, as shown in Figs. l and3, is substantially rectangular and has its side edges upwardly inclinedas at 73 and 74.

Secured to the plate 72 near each end thereof adjacent the inclined edge73 is a U-shaped bracket 75, the legs of which straddle an associatedfinger 69 and are pivotally connected thereto as at 76. The inclinededge 74 of the plate nea-r each end thereof also has secured thereto aU-shaped bracket 77 between the legs of which is pivotally mounted as at78 a block 79 from which rises a screw 81 which extends through anelongated slot 82 in the inclined portion 68 of each of the bars, a nut83 on each of the screws S1 permitting adjustment of the angle ofinclination of the plate 72 which is positioned So that its lowerinclined edge 74 is spaced from the belt 25 and is inclined toward theleft side of the machine as shown in Fig. 1.

Means are provided to eject rectangular box blanks 'and strike the stopmember 33.

onto the perforated belt 25 to be advanced thereby in direction at rightangles to the direction of ejection thereon.

To this end, as shown in Fig. 1, a roller 41 is provided mounted on ahorizontal shaft 42 extending at right angles to the rollers 22 and 23.

The roller 41 is positioned slightly to the left of the top surface orupper `run of the perforated conveyer belt and rises above the latter.The roller 41 has a plurality of annular grooves 43 in its periphery asshown in Fig. 5. Aiiixed to the frame of the machine and extendingparallel to roller 41 is an L-shaped bar 44 clearly shown in Fig. 6.Rising from the bar are a plurality of stud shafts 45 alignedrespectively with the annular grooves 43 in the roller 41. Rotatablymounted on each vof the stud shafts is a roller 46 positioned in each ofthe annular grooves and having the upper portion a of -its outerperiphery on the right hand side thereof positioned so that it does notextend beyond the outer periphvery b of the roller 41 with the lowerportion c of said roller 46 extending beyond the periphery b of saidroller 41 las is clearly shown in Fig. 6.

Associated with the roller 41 is a roller 51 positioned Vabove thelatter, said roller 51 illustratively carrying one end of an endlessconveyer belt 52 which may form part of a box blank folding machine 53,the latter as it per se Aforms no part of this invention, not beingdescribed in detail. The endless belt 52 rides between the rollers 41and S1 and an additional roller 54 also forms part of the foldingmachine 53, so that when a box blank is advanced it will be moved by thebelt 52 and a belt 55 encompassing the roller 54, between the rollers 41and 51 to be ejected outwardly onto the perforated belt 25 of the rightangle take off T.

Also associated with the right angle take off in the illustrativeembodiment shown is a box blank squaring machine 57 which may be of thetype shown in patent application Serial No. 620,841, led November 7,1956. This Squaring machine has an inlet throat 58 into which the boxblanks are successively advanced by the perforated endless belt 25 ofthe right angle take off T.

In the operation of the equipment, the motor M driving the suction fan15 is energized to create a suction in the suction tank 14 and the coverplate 21 is adjusted for the desired amount of suction which willsecurely retain a box blank against the perforated endless belt 25 yetprevent excessive suction which might draw portions of the box blankmaterial into the openings in the perforated belt 25 with resultantdeformation of such box blank. The back stop 33 is adjusted by rotationof screws 36 so that the distance of the back stop 33 from the verticalrollers 46 is substantially equal to the width of the box blank to beaccommodated, with a slight additional tolerance.

The rollers 22 and 23 carrying the perforated endless belt 25 are drivenin any suitable manner so that the belt will be advanced at a rate ofspeed slightly less than the speed at which the box blanks are ejectedthereon so that box blanks may be successively advanced in shingledrelation by the perforated belt 25.

As the folded box blanks are ejected by the driven roller 51 of thefolding machine 53, in association with the roller 41, the box blankswill strike the pivoted deector plate 72 and be cammed downwardly, thespeed of ejection of the box blanks causing the plate 72 to pivotupwardly so that the box blanks will pass therebeneath inasmuch as thereis suction provided through the perforations in the endless belt 2S,such box blank will be drawn downwardly and securely retained againstsuch endless belt 25.

With the use of the dellector plate 72, the box blanks will be retainedin closed condition and hence subsequent box blanks will not jam whichmight occur if preceding blanks opened an dthe subsequent blanks abuttedthereagainst.

If the box blank when it strike the back stop 33 should bounce backslightly, as the rear edge d (Fig. 6) thereof will still be against theperiphery b of roller 41 which is rotating in a clockwise direction,such rear edge will be forced downwardly. Thus the other edge of the boxblank will be moved toward the back stop until, by reason of the spacingbetween the back stop 33 and rollers 46, the box blank will falltherebetween to be retained on the belt 25 by suction.

inasmuch as -a portion of the periphery b of roller 41 extends beyondthe outer peripheries of the vertical rollers 46, at their upper edgesit is apparent that the edge of the box blank adjacent said verticalrollers cannot hang up on the tops of said rollers 46, but will fallbetween the rollers 46 and the back stop 33 and thereupon the verticalrollers 46 will act as guides for the adjacent edge of the box blank asit is advanced by the perforated suction belt 25.

As the box blanks retained against the suction belt 25 are advanced inshingle relation, when the leading edge moves past the end of the belt25 over the roller 23, it will be inserted into the mouth 58 of thesquaring machine S7 which will thereupon grip the leading edge of suchbox blank and advance the latter for subsequent processing.

VWith the equipment above described, the box blanks may be processed inone line and then moved at right angles into another line. As a resultof such right angle turn there is no need for an extremely longproduction line and furthermore, certain operations require that afterthe box blank has been folded it be turned at a ninety degree angle forsubsequent processing.

As many changes could be made in the above con' struction and manyapparently widely dierent embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. Equipment for advancing substantially fiat, rectangular articles suchas folded box blanks, said equipment comprising a conveyer movable in ahorizontal plane, means to provide suction through said conveyer toretain an article thereon, said means comprising a suction tank having aperforated top wall, means to create a suction in said tank, saidconveyer comprising an endless perforated belt having its upper runriding on the perforated top wall of said tank, said conveyer having acontinuous surface for discharge of articles thereon, means positivelyto eject articles initially in substantially a horizontal plane abovethat of said conveyer belt, onto said conveyer belt in direction atright angles to the direction of movement thereof, stop means opposed tothe means to discharge articles onto the conveyer and transverselyspaced therefrom, and a downwardly inclined deector member positionedbetween the ejection means and the stop means and in the path ofmovement of the articles ejected onto the conveyer.

2. The combination set forth in claim l in which said stop meanscomprises an elongated member, a pair of spaced support bars are affixedto said elongated member and extend toward said discharge means, aportion of each of said bars at the free ends thereof being inclinedupwardly, said deflector member comprises a substantially rectangularplate, pivotally mounted adjacent one of its longitudinal edges to thefree ends of said support bars and inclined downwardly therefrom, a pairof support rods are pivotally mounted at one end to the plate near theends thereof adjacent its other longitudinal edge, said rods extendingthrough said support bars and means to limit the downward movement ofsaid rods through said support bars.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which a portion of the topwall of said tank is imperforate and said upper run of the endlessperforated belt rides on the perforated portion of said top wall, meansbeing provided in said imperforate portion of said top wall to regulatethe suction.

4. Equipment for advancing substantially llat, rectangular articles such.as folded box blanks, said equipment comprising a conveyer movable in ahorizontal plane, means to provide suction through said conveyer toretain an article thereon, means to discharge articles onto saidconveyer in direction at right angles to the direction of movementthereof, stop means opposed to the means to discharge articles onto theconveyer and transversely spaced therefrom, said discharge means beingpositioned adjacent an edge of the conveyer and comprising a rollermounted on an axis extending parallel to the adjacent edge of saidconveyer and positioned outwardly therefrom, said roller having aportion thereof extending above said conveyer, means associated withsaid roller to grip an :article therebetween to eject the latter ontosaid conveyer, said stop means limiting the transverse movement of saidarticle by said discharge means, said roller having a plurality ofannular grooves therein, and a plurality of upstanding means positionedrespectively in said annular grooves, said upstanding means beingpositioned between the axis of said roller and the adjacent edge of saidconveyer, the lower portion of said upstanding means being clear of saidroller to define a guide for such article.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which each of said upstandingmeans comprises a roller, the upper portion of the periphery of whichadjacent said conveyer is positioned inwardly of the periphery of saidfirst named roller. v

6. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which the position of saidstop means is adjustable whereby the distance between the stop means.and the lower portion of said upstanding means may be set to an amountslightly greater than the width of the articles to be discharged ontothe conveyer.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which said stop meanscomprises an elongated bar extending parallel to said roller having itslower edge lying in substantially the same horizontal plane as that ofsaid conveyer, a pair of brackets mount said bar, a pair of support rodsextending transversely across the conveyer slidably mount said brackets,and screw means associated with said brackets to adjust the positionthereof on said support rods to adjust the position of said stop means.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,278,537 Wegner Sept. 10, 1918 1,465,960 Winter Aug. 28, 1923 2,425,210Stokes Aug. 5, 1947 2,498,061 Apgar Feb. 21, 1950 2,782,734 Nichols Feb.26, 1957

